As public criticism mounted over the pace and efficiency of Venezuela’s earthquake response, the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez issued its first public defense of the operation with her 180-day mandate as interim leader expiring on Friday.
The powerful twin quakes struck the northern state of La Guaira on June 24, and killed more than 2,295 people, according to the latest government figures. A non-governmental digital database continues to list more than 38,000 people as missing.
